Device for shooting a projectile

ABSTRACT

A device for shooting a projectile with ball cartridges by means of a gun or the like, comprising, on one hand, an adapter tube containing, at close vicinity to one of its ends, a damping cylinder made of a relatively resilient material and, on the other hand, a supporting tube contained in the projectile and opening onto the rear face thereof, the bottom of said supporting tube carrying a primer, the adapter tube being adapted, on one hand, to be inserted into said supporting tube and, on the other hand, to be slid about the barrel of the arm used for shooting. Also a projectile particularly conditioned to operate with said device.

United States Patent [191 Chavee 1451 Feb. 27, 1973 [5 DEVICE FORSHOOTINGA 3,512,480 5/1970 Barr ..102/64 PROJECTILE 3,186,119 6/1965 Marasetal .,...42 1F 3,439,615 4/1969 Fonnan et al ..42/1 F Inventor: Rene M-J-Chav99,Genk,Belgwm 3,491,693 1/1970 Streckfuss m1. ..l02/65.2 [73] Assigneez Fabrique Nationale DArmes de Guerre, Societe Anonyme, Herstallez-Liege, Belgium Primary Examiner-Benjamin A. Borchelt Assistant Examiner-C. T. Jordan Attorney-Richards & Geier [22] Filed: Oct. 6, 1970 1 21 Appl. 196.: 78,516 [57] ABSTRACT A device for shooting a projectile with ball cartridges by means of a gun or the like, comprising, on one [30] Forelg" Apphcatlo" Pnomy Data hand, an' adapter tube containing, at close vicinity to one of its ends, a damping cylinder made of a relative- Belglum ly resilient material and, on the other hand, a supporting tube contained in the projectile and opening onto [52] US. Cl. ..42/1 F, 102/652 the rear face thereof the bottom of Said pp g- [51] Int. Cl ..F41c 27/06,F42b 11/42 t b th d t t b b h AZ/1F. 102/652 64 u e carrymg a pr1mer, e a ap er u e emg 8] F'eld seam adapted, on one hand, to be mserted nto sa1d supporting tube and, on the other hand, to be slid about the [56] References C'ted barrel of the arm used for shooting. Also a projectile UNITED STATES PATENTS particularly conditioned to operate with said device.

1,900,790 3/1933 Brandt ..42/1 1= 3 Claims, 5 Drawing r s j////////,l Y I/ 9 8 Q 0 A? 15' I l 7 5 6 f3 0 Q 4 o a: o a Q 3] 0 Q a a a Q 0/4 i l ///////1 r/////-/// PATENTEUFEBZYIW 3.717. 946

KY Q

INVENTOR.

R. M.J.'Chavee. BY

Much 3M DEVICE FOR SHOOTING A PROJECTILE This invention relates to a device for shooting a projectile, more particularly with ball-cartridge, by means of a hand arm such as a gun or the like.

It has already been suggested to shoot projectiles, e.g., tear grenades, by means of rifles or carbines. The devices suggested therefor are generally using blank cartridges or special cartridges. Thus, they have a disadvantage in that the user must be in possession of both a rifle and special cartridges. It has also been suggested to shoot projectiles, e.g., offensive grenades, by means of a war rifle and normal ball/cartridges. In such devices, the rear portion of the projectile is generally provided with a ball trap restraining the ball and thereby preventing the projectile from being damaged.

It was found that it would be very advantageous to shoot projectiles such as tear grenades, smoke grenades and the like by means of a gun or a pistol. This is for instance the case for the police forces normally equipped with guns and who must sometimes intervene very rapidly before the matters get worse. It has also been found that the presence of policemen equipped with rifles in a location where the perturbation is beginning or latent, could have a psychological effect detrimental to the appeasement.

Thus, if it is very advantageous to shoot projectiles by means of a gun, it is however very difficult to practically realize the arrangement owing to the very nature of the arm used for shooting, the difficulties being not so pronounced when shooting by means of rifles. These difficulties are still increased when it is desired to shoot by means of a normal ball-cartridge.

Among the above difficulties, the relative fragility of the projectiles such as tear grenades and the like, the reduced kick force and the small weight required when shooting with a gun, the projection of the shooter against the projections at the start of the projectile and the like must be mentioned.

The object of the invention is to solve very readily and efficiently said difficulties.

For this purpose, there is suggested a device of the considered type comprising, on one hand, an adapter tube containing, at close vicinity of one of its ends, a damping cylinder of a relatively resilient material and, on the other hand, a supporting tube contained in the projectile and opening onto the rear face thereof, the bottom of said tube carrying a primer, the said adapter tube being intended to be inserted through one of its ends into the supporting tube and being slid through its other end about the barrel of the arm used for shooting.

Practically, said supporting tube will be preferably an integral part of the projectile.

The characteristics and the advantages of this invention will be more apparent by the following description of an embodiment thereof given only by way of illustration, reference being made to the enclosed drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevation view of a gun ready to shoot a projectile, namely a tear grenade, according to the invention;

.- FIG. 2 is an axial section on an enlarged scale of the shooting device according to the invention shown on FIG. 1, as well as the projectile;

- FIG. 3 is an axial section of another embodiment of the shooting device proper;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the damping cylinder after shooting and FIG. Sis a view according to arrow F, of FIG. 4. Thus, the device according to the invention allows to shoot a projectile, namely a tear grenade l, by means of a gun 2. a

The shooting device proper comprises an adapter tube 3, preferably of a flexible material (cardboard, plastic material...) containing, at close vicinity of one of its ends, a damping cylinder 4 of a resilient material.

The projectile 1 comprises a casing 5 of a synthetic material containing an annular gas generating charge 6 as well as a central charge 7 for firing the charge 6. The opened face of the casing is obturated by a lid 8 maintained in obturating position by folding up the corresponding edge of easing 5 about an annular collar 9 of said lid.

The latter is provided with a central opening through which is forced a supporting tube 10, the edge of said opening engaging resiliently a peripheral groove 11 provided on tube 10.

The bottom 12, of tube 10 comprises a recess 13 housing a primer 14, said recess being extended by an axial channel 15 opening inside the said casing opposite to the firing charge 7.

The inner diameter of tube 3 is equal or slightly greater than the outer diameter of barrel 16 of arm 2, whereas the outer diameter thereof is substantially equal to the inner diameter of tube 10.

The wall of tube 3 is provided with a slit 17 extending from its free edge on a generatrix of the said wall, the width of the said slit beingsubstantially equal to the thickness of the foresight 18 provided at the end of barrel 16.

In another embodiment according to FIG. 3, an additional propelling charge 19 is provided in tube 3, said charge being maintained between a damping disc 20 and a cup 21 with an axial passage 22 centrally carrying a primer 23, said elements being maintained between the folded edges 24 of tube 3, on one hand, and the damping cylinder 4 forming a plug, on the other hand. In another embodiment (not shown), the second primer 23 is merely omitted. The cup 21 may then either be provided or be replaced by a disc.

The above described device operates as follows: If not already made, tube 3 is inserted into the supporting tube 10 making part of projectile I. The projecting portion of tube 3 is then slid about barrel 16, the foresight l8 engaging slit 17. The arm is then held in hand as usual and a normal ball cartridge is shot. The said ball penetrates into tube 3, passes through cylinder 4 while transmitting the major part of its kinetic energy to the projectile which is thereby shot and strikes the primer 14 either by direct impact thereon or by the pressure exerted by the cylinder 4 when the ball is secured in said cylinder. The latter fires charge 7 which in turn fires charge 6.

In the embodiment according to FIG. 3, it is of course the primer 23 which will be struck by the ball, thereby firing charge 19 the combustion of which will impart an additional thrust to the projectile while firing primer 14 by the distorsion of the disc 20 providing for the percussion.

The damping cylinder 4 operates very outstandingly. Numerous practical tests have shown that the ball was axially perforating said cylinder without substantially affecting the material thereof. During the advance of the ball through the cylinder, the material closes up behind the ball, thereby forming an obturator while preventing any rearward projection of debris likely to injurethe shooter. This feature is particularly important when using simple lead balls since the droplets of molten lead, projected when the ball is crushed against bottom 12 or cap 21, could otherwise injure the shooter.

In addition, the resilient nature of the cylinder 4 prevents any damage to the shooting device and the projectile when shooting.

This surprising action of damping cylinder 4 is illustrated on FIGS. 4 and 5 which show such a cylinder recovered after a trial shooting. Said cylinder maintained still firmly the ball 25 the head 26 of which was completely crushed after the impact against the bottom 12 of tube 10. The rear face of cylinder 4 through which the ball 25 had penetrated, presented centrally a hole 27 similar to a pin hole.

Preferably, the damping cylinder will be made of hard rubber (Shore A70 to 75), whereas casing 5 is advantageously made of high density polyethylene.

The tube 3 being not subjected to any particular stress, may be made of any suitable material, preferably of an inexpensive plastic material.

The total weight of the grenade will be advantageously about 150 g. It is apparent that various modifications may be brought to the above described device within the scope of the invention. Thus, it would be possible to provide integrally the supporting tube and the adapter tube. lf the shooting of grenades has been principally emphasized in the foregoing, it is understood that the principles of the invention may be also applied for shooting other objects such as mooring ropes, lighting fuses and the like.

What we claim is:

l. A device for shooting a projectile with a ball cartridge by means of a weapon having a barrel, said device comprising an adapter tube, a damping cylinder frictionally fitted in said adapter tube close to one of its ends, said damping cylinder consisting of a cylindrical bar of a resilient material, a supporting tube located in said projectile and opening onto the rear face thereof, and a primer carried by the bottom of said supporting tube, said adapter tube being adapted to be inserted into said supporting tube and also to be slid about said barrel.

2. A device in accordance with claim 1, comprising an inner collar upon the end of the adapter tube intended for insertion into said supporting tube, said device further comprising a cup, a propelling charge and a damping disc disposed successively between said damping cylinder and said collar.

3. A device in accordance with claim 2, wherein said damping cylinder and said damping disc consist of hard natural rubber. 

1. A device for shooting a projectile with a ball cartridge by means of a weapon having a barrel, said device comprising an adapter tube, a damping cylinder frictionally fitted in said adapter tube close to one of its ends, said damping cylinder consisting of a cylindrical bar of a resilient material, a supporting tube located in said projectile and opening onto the rear face thereof, and a primer carried by the bottom of said supporting tube, said adapter tube being adapted to be inserted into said supporting tube and also to be slid about said barrel.
 2. A device in accordance with claim 1, comprising an inner collar upon the end of the adapter tube intended for insertion into said supporting tube, said device further comprising a cup, a propelling charge and a damping disc disposed successively between said damping cylinder and said collar.
 3. A device in accordance with claim 2, wherein said damping cylinder and said damping disc consist of hard natural rubber. 